Chapter 55: Shinnō's Challenge and the Sudden Plan!
At the foot of the cliff, after only a moment of awkwardness, Tsukasa immediately collected his thoughts and looked around.
The three of them were no longer on the cliff where they'd battled Kakuzu. Dozens of Jashin Cult members wearing black robes and some dressed as samurai were visible below, continuously expanding their search perimeter.
At some point, the team had moved to the other side of the valley—specifically, to the opposite side of the cliff that Kakuzu's Wind Release: Pressure Damage had caused to collapse.
Right under the noses of the Jashin Cult members. Bold, but risky.
However, if they continued like this, it was only a matter of time before they were discovered and surrounded.
"Do you see it?" Shinnō stood aside, looking down and speaking flatly.
"The commotion from your battle with Kakuzu was too loud, and it's put them on high alert."
"Including what you see now and what you don't, there are four teams on the perimeter constantly expanding their search radius from the battle center. The entrance to the Jashin Cult headquarters' underground cave is guarded by six fully armed chūnin-level teams."
"Inside, it's still unknown how many members are stationed."
"Today seems to be a special day for them. Most of their forces have been recalled to headquarters."
Shinnō paused, then looked back at Tsukasa and Mei Terumi, saying lightly:
"It's time to face reality, don't you think?"
"With your current strength, wanting to accomplish something like destroying the Jashin Cult is pure fantasy."
Tsukasa frowned slightly, about to refute.
However, Mei Terumi turned around at that moment, her eyes solemn and determined.
"I'm going. I have intelligence that I must confirm inside."
"Besides, it's not without a chance."
She pointed toward the castle location and frowned. "The underground cave is directly below the castle. We don't need to charge in from the front. We can infiltrate by tunneling straight down from above."
"The enemy's defenses are concentrated at the entrance now. The castle above shouldn't be as heavily guarded."
"This is an opportunity."
Shinnō shook his head slightly. "First, you don't know the depth of the cave. Second, how can you guarantee that your tunnel will actually reach it?"
"Also," Shinnō asked calmly, "how can you be sure this isn't a deliberate trap? For all you know, there could be a hundred people inside the castle waiting to ambush you."
"Just buy me a little time." Mei Terumi said resolutely, determination written across her face.
"I'm proficient in Water, Earth, and Fire Release techniques. I can use Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish Technique to scout the castle's layout and intelligence. Moreover, the limestone layer that forms the cave can be easily corroded by my Lava Release."
"It'll only take a moment." Mei Terumi cast her gaze toward Tsukasa.
Shinnō might be powerful, but his presence here resembled an idle observer with no investment in the outcome.
If they wanted to finish their unfinished business, it would depend on her and the other active member of the team—Tsukasa.
But Mei Terumi hesitated. Looking at Tsukasa, who had just endured a brutal battle—covered in burns, scrapes, and blood—she felt her request seemed excessive.
And Shinnō sneered at just the right moment:
"Little girl, have you forgotten?"
"When we first arrived, you proposed what seemed like a feasible plan."
"But what was the result?"
He stretched out his hand and pointed at Tsukasa struggling to stand.
"Because of your hesitation, you missed the opportunity to infiltrate the Jashin Cult headquarters."
"Because of your hesitation, you ran into the S-rank missing-nin Kakuzu."
"Because of your hesitation, this kid is lying here half-dead."
"The kid named Hidan who followed you was captured, and the Jashin Cult's security increased dramatically. Now you want him to risk his life for you again?"
"If you had listened to this kid earlier and rushed straight into headquarters, wouldn't you already have what you need?"
Shinnō didn't finish explicitly, but his discouraging tone was already obvious.
Shinnō, who had been an observer from the beginning, saw it clearly.
In his eyes, the only one truly determined to reach the cult's headquarters was Mei Terumi.
Tsukasa and Hidan were just impulsive kids playing at being heroes, boasting and treating it like a game. It wasn't until Tsukasa risked his life against Kakuzu and revealed his hidden potential that Shinnō began taking this makeshift team slightly seriously.
Under Shinnō's questioning, Mei Terumi fell silent.
She exhaled, clenching her fists, feeling somewhat foolish.
This was clearly her own mission—so why was she instinctively relying on Tsukasa?
For a moment, no one spoke.
The atmosphere grew oppressively heavy, everyone's faces solemn and guarded.
Just then, Tsukasa, having struggled to his feet, suddenly spoke up.
"No problem. Let me buy you that time!"
"What?"
Mei Terumi and Shinnō looked at him in surprise, their eyes filled with bewilderment.
Their expressions held the same meaning—as if asking: Young man, do you even have the right to volunteer? Don't you see how miserable your condition is? Do you even have any chakra left?
"The plan is sound. Kakuzu's appearance was an unexpected emergency." Tsukasa activated his Sharingan, scanned the positions below, and analyzed aloud.
"With the enemy's current defenses, charging in directly is obviously not feasible."
"I think we should try this approach."
Then Tsukasa looked at Mei Terumi and asked:
"I'll draw their attention while you gather intelligence. Where should we meet up afterward? How much time do you need?"
Mei Terumi took a deep breath, her eyes struggling for a moment before she spoke coldly:
"You'll need to descend from here, bypass the outer wall, pass through our previous battle site, lead them on a chase around the castle walls, then head to the fork in the road before the Jashin Cult headquarters' underground cave entrance, turn toward the inner castle wall and climb up. That's the meeting point..."
Mei Terumi pointed to the terrain below and explained the route to Tsukasa in detail, including critical checkpoints.
Then, her expression slightly stiffening, she continued:
"It'll take about five minutes. Once I complete the reconnaissance, I'll arrive at the fork ahead of schedule and use Hidden Mist Technique to help you escape your pursuers."
"If the plan succeeds, we might also find the intelligence I need and Hidan's location."
"Then we rescue him."
Shinnō, standing nearby, couldn't help but scoff.
"That sounds nice, but what if the plan goes wrong?"
He paused, then added quietly:
"Say you let this kid draw fire and lead dozens of enemies away, and after you get what you want, you never come back—"
"Without your Hidden Mist Technique to help escape, this kid would..."
Before Shinnō could finish, Tsukasa laughed.
"In that case, I'd probably be facing ten Jashin Cult squads, twelve reconnaissance team shinobi, countless wandering samurai, and eighteen fully armed chūnin wielding the cult's secret techniques."
"In that situation, I'd probably die."
Then Tsukasa turned to Mei Terumi.
"But I believe in you!"
End of Chapter 55
Chapter 56: The Price of Resurrection and Shinnō's Twisted Test
Meeting Tsukasa's sincere gaze, Mei Terumi felt her heart skip a beat.
Her face flushed slightly, and without hesitation, she raised her head, gazing intently at Tsukasa with her clear emerald eyes.
"I'll definitely be there."
Tsukasa nodded, his expression focused. He continued observing the dozens of enemies on the walls below with his Sharingan, carefully memorizing their positions.
Soon, a slight frown crossed his face—not because the enemy's numbers made them formidable.
Rather, he suddenly realized his Sharingan had become capable of seeing farther and more clearly.
The rapid rotation of the tomoe enhanced his dynamic vision and frame-by-frame perception abilities, similar to bullet time.
Tsukasa's heart sank with the feeling that something was off.
He immediately tried to check his status.
At this moment, Shinnō, who had been silently observing Tsukasa, folded his arms and approached. With a sneer, he asked:
"You've noticed, haven't you?"
"The heart beating in your chest—while it gives you life, it's also become your shackle."
Tsukasa raised his eyebrows, gave him a cold look, and decisively opened his status panel.
[Name: Uchiha Tsukasa]
[Title: Heaven-Sent Warrior]
[Abilities: Heart of Steel (SSS), Sharingan - Dual Tomoe (A-), Combat Intuition (Proficient, S+)]
[Special Equipment: Earth Grudge Fear Heart (Earth): Upon equipping, grants the ninjutsu Earth Release: Earth Spear. This heart negates all other chakra nature attributes, allowing only Earth Release techniques. Retraining other chakra natures can acquire additional hearts with those attributes.]
[Techniques: Uchiha Style - Transcendent Shuriken Manipulation (Mastered, S-Rank), Absolute Encirclement Formation (Mastered, S-Rank), Fire Release Techniques (Forbidden), Wind Release - Gale Palm (Forbidden), Water Release - Water Fang Blade (Forbidden), Earth Release - Earth Spear (Beginner, B-Rank)]
[Special Techniques: Fire Release - Chakra Mode (Forbidden), Forbidden Technique - Physical Regeneration (Proficient, S-Rank), Secret Technique - Earth Grudge Fear Stitching (Beginner, A-Rank)]
[Mental Fortitude Stacks (Expandable)]
[Insurance Status: Active]
Seeing the situation on his status screen, Tsukasa's frown deepened.
From this, he could tell he'd survived because Shinnō had replaced his heart with Kakuzu's Earth Release Earth Grudge Fear heart.
The side effects were obvious.
Due to the special nature of the Earth Grudge Fear technique, each heart could only be used for ninjutsu of one specific nature.
This created a problem.
His ninjutsu arsenal was now severely limited, with only Earth Release remaining. He couldn't use Fire Release, Water Release, or Wind Release—including the self-destructive Fire Release: Chakra Mode.
This reduced him from a versatile jutsu user to a close-combat specialist limited to Earth Release, specifically the defensive Earth Spear technique.
However, instead of feeling discouraged, Tsukasa felt conflicted.
He'd become stronger! More durable!
After all, lost chakra natures could be regained through practice and acquiring new hearts.
But Earth Release: Earth Spear...
This technique was among the absolute top-tier conventional ninjutsu in the shinobi world—an advanced version of Earth Release: Hardening.
This technique hardened the body to diamond-like consistency, maximizing defense while simultaneously increasing the destructive power of physical attacks.
Aside from Lightning Release techniques with proper nature transformation, virtually no conventional ninjutsu could break through Earth Spear.
In other words, as long as he could withstand the technique's extreme physical demands, Tsukasa could easily become a master of close-quarters combat.
Thinking of such a scenario, Tsukasa fell silent, momentarily unsure how to respond to Shinnō's question.
Shackles? What shackles?!
He only knew he was terrifyingly powerful now!
Shinnō observed Tsukasa's conflicted expression, raised his eyebrows, and an irrepressible satisfaction rose in his eyes.
He chuckled darkly, put on a stern expression, and spoke ominously:
"Well? Do you feel that emptiness?"
"All the ninjutsu you've trained so hard to master have now become worthless."
"All your efforts until now have betrayed you."
"Do you understand what reality means now?"
Tsukasa: "..."
He had no idea how to respond to Shinnō's questions.
Should I thank him profusely for not only clearing out the trash techniques but also thoughtfully equipping me with a legendary-tier upgrade?
"Hmph." Shinnō sneered, crossing his arms with the demeanor of a master, and whispered coldly into Tsukasa's ear:
"Why do you think I saved you?"
"I want you to sink step by step into this world of endless suffering."
"To recognize the cruelty of this world, and then honestly abandon your ridiculous ideals."
After saying this, Shinnō fell silent for a moment.
He patted Tsukasa's shoulder and sneered:
"The shinobi world isn't so naive that it can be ruled by a fool like you."
"Shinobi from the Bloody Mist aren't worthy of your trust."
"Now go home and grow up, little brat."
On the cliff, the cold morning breeze swept past, carrying a few green leaves with it.
Tsukasa narrowed his eyes slightly, slapping Shinnō's hand off his shoulder.
He then looked at him and asked coldly:
"Why are you telling me all this?"
Shinnō frowned slightly, then replied calmly: "Do you even need to ask?"
"Now that you've lost everything, what can you possibly do?"
"Continue being stubborn?"
"Or keep clinging to your meaningless ninja way?"
"Oh, you don't think I'm pitying you, do you?"
Shinnō scoffed, then added:
"Unfortunately, I don't pity dead men."
"When you copied my Forbidden Technique: Physical Regeneration and used it, your fate was sealed."
"It's called forbidden because it consumes the human body's life force."
"After using it, you only have three to seven years left to live."
"I might as well tell you—the only way to avoid the cost of this forbidden technique is to find a substitute that can pay the price."
Shinnō sneered, revealing the cruel truth.
"And that substitute is a Tailed Beast!"
Tsukasa frowned at him. He'd already guessed at this lifespan cost.
The foundation of Orochimaru's Living Corpse Reincarnation technique came from the Forbidden Technique: Physical Regeneration perfected by this man.
Before Orochimaru used proper vessels, he'd used imperfect test subjects. Within three years, those bodies began rejecting him.
Previous vessels also began rejecting Orochimaru, forcing him to abandon them after about seven years.
Using unsuitable bodies caused deterioration that could only be temporarily repaired with Physical Regeneration until eventual failure and collapse.
The solution to this side effect was either to seize Tailed Beast power like Shinnō attempted, or to engage in research like Orochimaru and avoid the cost through constant body replacement.
Shinnō's eyes narrowed as he spoke, almost interrogating:
"Now—have you faced reality?"
"Having lost all your techniques except that one that nearly burned you to nothing."
"Do you think you can grow to Kage-level power within three years?"
"Or do you think you can risk igniting a shinobi war to defeat and capture Tailed Beasts from the major hidden villages?"
Shinnō's questions cut to the heart of the dilemma—addressing both Tsukasa and his own former self.
But back then, Shinnō had chosen to escape, to forge a different path by researching the incomplete Zero-Tails.
In that process, he'd gradually discovered the dangers of the Zero-Tails' dark chakra, leading him to wander the shinobi world seeking solutions—which ultimately brought him to the Land of Hot Water.
And now, in this very moment, he desperately wanted to know:
Facing the same—if not even more difficult—predicament, what would this arrogant brat Tsukasa choose?
Would he flee like Shinnō had, or face this despairing reality head-on?
Shinnō's smile gradually twisted, his expression becoming almost eager. He pointed to the bottom of the four-hundred-meter cliff and whispered in Tsukasa's ear:
"Well? Do you want to prove something to me?"
End of Chapter 56
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